Iain M. Banks, _Transition_ - rec.arts.sf.written

Message from discussion Iain M. Banks, _Transition_

DouhetSukd

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More options Oct 17 2009, 6:55 am

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written

From: DouhetSukd <douhets...@gmail.com>

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:55:18 -0700 (PDT)

Local: Sat, Oct 17 2009 6:55 am

Subject: Re: Iain M. Banks, _Transition_

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On Oct 16, 10:51 am, Mike Ash <m...@mikeash.com> wrote:

> I'll try to keep this spoiler-free. If you want to talk more in depth
> about events in the book, please don't forget the appropriate warnings.

> I finally got _Transition_ from the local library and finished it last
> night. Overall opinion: quite good! I thought Banks had gone downhill a
> bit with _The Algebraist_ and really downhill with _Matter_, but
> _Transition_ is excellent. I won't call it a return to form, because
> it's really very different from his usual, but it's at least a return to
> former heights of quality.

Banks seemed worse to me lately in the non-SF version. I didn't mind
Algebraist, really. And I couldn't remember anything bad about
Matter. In fact, I couldn't remember what Matter was about until I
read its Wiki entry. That barely jolted my recollection.

But I've just re-read Use of Weapons and could use a good Banks again.

> All in all, highly recommended, but beware that the plot can be
> difficult to keep track of.

Txs. Good review. I was really wondering if Transition was worth
looking into and you've typed me into it.

One question, though. Is Banks all preachy about his political views
in this one? I don't mind subtlety, but he's been getting worse in
non-SF.

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